Ladder Fifty-Five soon came to a stop and everyone rushed out.

"Two-story brick building. Flames pretty big, second floor." Donovan said over the radio.

"Captain Mitchell. How's it hangin'?" Arnold came up to the Captain of Ladder Thirty-Three. "Shortman. You guys sure took your time."

"Hey, not our fault you had to activate a second alarm for this house fire."

"The house is big, what'd you expect?"

"Yeah, yeah…. Anyone inside?"

"I had someone looking for a missing victim but he hasn't gotten back to me yet."

Arnold then looked over at the house. "This is important. How long ago did your man enter?"

"Maybe like a half hour?"

"And you didn't bother to reach out to him?!" The Captain didn't answer. "You lazy…" Arnold was about to insult him but kept to himself. "Fifty-Five to Dispatch, we have a possible downed firefighter. We're initiating a search and rescue!"

"Ten-four, Fifty-Five."

"How's the roof?"

"It's somewhat stable."

"Alright, we can't vent the roof so that means visibility will be zero." Arnold then got on his radio. "Fifty-Five, Five, we're going in." Arnold then looked at the Captain for Thirty-Three. "You're staying put. I'll have someone else take command" He then ran over to Ladder Fifty-Five.

"Lieutenant! Over here real quick!" Arnold called Spinelli over. "What's up, Cap?"

"You're in charge out here. I'm heading in with a search and rescue team."

"Woah, woah, woah, woah. What?"

"Look, I don't have time to explain, we have a possible downed firefighter. You're in charge out here." Arnold explained briefly as he put on his oxygen tank. "You guys meet me over there, I'll catch up." Arnold then went on his radio. "Donovan, get the Ladder up high and spray down the fire from there. Buys us time until we find the downed man of Thirty-Three."

"Copy that, Cap!"

"Arnold, I obviously know we're at work but…"

"But what?"

Spinelli immediately hugged him. "Just be careful inside." Arnold could only smile. "Don't worry. I will."

Arnold soon turned around to Travis. "Yo, Montgomery! We're all set?"

"All ready here, Cap!"

"Alright, we wasted enough time as it is. You're with me to find the missing man, Warren, White, you're both in charge of finding the victim."

"Got it, Cap!"

"Alright, let's go!"

As the four soon moved in, Spinelli only gulped.

She only shook her head to shake off her thoughts. "Donovan, how's it going up there?"

"So far contained, but not sure for how long! I'm also seeing the roof's stability becoming like wet cardboard!"

"Boy, that doesn't sound good. Keep me posted on it."

"Copy!"

"Ugh. Too early for this."

"You hear something, Travis?" Arnold asked. He heard a faint beeping. "Wait… Don't tell me that's what I think it is…" Travis stood silently.

The beeping kept going.

"That's over there! It's probably his PASS device! C'mon!" They crouched down as they walked slowly with visibility down.

"Vic! I found our victim!" The rookie Warren shouted. "We need to get her outside, now!" Vic started. "Lieutenant, we have our victim and we're headed back out!"

"Copy that, Fifty-Five. Medics on standby."

"LOOK OUT!" Flaming debris fell from the roof, igniting the fire more. "Lieutenant! Get a line at the entrance once we're out! Fire starting to burn pretty bad!"

"I'm getting a line there now."

The beeping noise kept getting louder and louder with every step the two took.

They soon found the downed man of Thirty-Three.

"Over there!" Travis shouted.

"Uh, Lieutenant? Remember about the roof being like wet cardboard?"

"What's happening, Donovan?!"

"The roof is slowly starting to give way! And if it collapses, it could compromise the second floor!"

"And that would trap Montgomery and Arnold…!" Spinelli then looked at the burning house. "Montgomery! Shortman! You two have at most minutes before the structure could give way!"

"C'mon! EUGH!" Travis and Arnold were trying their hardest to pull the wooden structure off the man from Thirty-Three. "Almost there!"

"Montgomery! Shortman! Do you read!" Spinelli repeated.

"THERE!" The two finally got the wooden debris off the guy. "Easy now, easy!" The two put his arms over their shoulders. "Lieutenant, we read! We have our guy, and we're headed out!" Arnold replied.

"Oh, thank God…" Spinelli breathed a sigh of relief. "Ten-four.

"SHIT!" Travis flinched as fire shot from a destroyed wall. "We better hurry 'cause this bitch could give way at any moment!" Arnold said.

"Uh oh…" Donovan said from the Ladder. Fire abruptly shot from the roof as the roof started to give way a little. "Lieutenant! The roof's stability is getting worse and worse!"

"Shortman! Montgomery! You two have to get out NOW!"

"Stretcher!"

"Set her down here!"

"Severe smoke inhalation. Weak pulse and she's not breathing on her own!"

"We're almost out, Lieutenant!" Travis replied through the radio. The creaking was then heard. "Travis, LOOK OUT!"

The burning structure collapsed right at the only exit.

The two gasped as they panted behind their masks. "Oh no…" The two said.

"Shortman. Montgomery. What's happening in there!"

"Lieutenant… we're trapped… And possibly no sign of escape." Travis replied. "It's too much risk getting water towards this fire… We're trapped…" Arnold added.

Travis and Arnold looked at each other as they soon started looking for another way out.

CRASH

The ceiling behind them collapsed, leaving the left and right sides available.

"We don't have time with the roof collapsing to get a team out back… The living room!" Spinelli soon saw the living room windows. "Montgomery, Shortman, you read?"

"We copy, Lieutenant!"

"Listen, to your right, there should be a living room, it's the only part of the house not involved! Get there NOW!"

"C'mon! We gotta get out!" The two soon headed for the living room.

Fire was spreading towards the living room as it had already started burning a sofa.

"There must be something to break the glass with…" Travis let go of the man and started to look for anything to break the glass. "Let's just hope the fire doesn't flash on us!" Arnold replied.

"C'mon…! C'mon, Arnold…!" Spinelli whispered to herself.

Travis found a remote that could help. "Here goes nothing…!" Travis soon broke down the glass with the remote.

CRASH

"Over there!" Voices from outside exclaimed.

The fire only grew with the more oxygen it was fed.

"You get him out!" Arnold said as he handed over the man to Montgomery. "But what about you?!"

"JUST GO!"

Firefighters on the other side awaited. A stretcher was brought to them. Travis pulled the man out and the firefighters on the other side soon pulled him out.

Travis soon got out and helped out with the downed man.

Fire inside spreaded quickly and was bound to flashover.

Arnold soon started to hop out from the window, but a loud creaking from the roof was heard.

CRASH

The roof collapsed and started to collapse on the second floor.

Arnold was yanked out by his colleagues; they were all on the ground once the roof started collapsing.

"aw, fuck…"

"Everyone… alright?" Arnold soon asked. "Everyone's out, Arnold. Including you." Spinelli smirked as she stood above him. Arnold only gave a satisfied smile.

Spinelli soon helped Arnold to his feet as he soon took off his breathing apparatus. "Man fuck…" Arnold kept taking deep breaths as he panted.

"Pretty early in the morning for shit like this, hm?" Spinelli lightly smirked. "WAY too early. Next thing you know I'm pounding beers thinking I'm staying hydrated." Arnold chuckled. "Alright chuckles, let's get you checked out." Spinelli put his arm over her shoulder.

Spinelli then pressed her soft lips on his cheek. "And thanks for not dying on me." She smirked. "Oh, how funny." Arnold smirked back.


An Hour Later

Donovan and Warren were inside the station as the trucks were backing in.

The trucks were parked and shut off.

Everyone was now out of the trucks as Arnold gathered them up. "You guys haven't forgotten about McShay's line of duty funeral, right?"

"Not at all."

"Not missing it for anything in the world."

"His funeral is tomorrow. I expect everyone to show up. Dismissed."

"Hey, Arnold. Is there anything you want me to do?" Spinelli followed behind him. "Not unless you want to clean me, then not at all." He smirked. "Oh, you teasing ass!" Spinelli smirked.

"You know, there's something you could help with."

"What's that?" She raised an eyebrow. Arnold immediately turned around, put his hands behind her ears, and started to kiss her. Spinelli couldn't resist and kissed him back.

"See you later?"

"Always." Spinelli gave a loving smile. Arnold smiled back and kissed her forehead.

Later

"Travis, you never fail to amaze!" Arnold said as he peered over his shoulder. "Just needs a few finishing touches and it'll be ready."

"Hey, Vic!" Arnold greeted. "Well, if it isn't the shining Knight in armor!" Victoria greeted Arnold with a friendly kiss on his cheek. "Heard anything about the guy from Station Thirty-Three?"

"No, not really. But I gotta say, that station is filled with bunches of bums, including the Captain." Vic said. "Ugh, I know right? The Captain didn't even notice one of his own was unaccounted for. Not to mention that they barely clean those musty ass showers there."

"Where'd you hear that?"

"Gerald. He told me after he transferred here. Never forget that he was a rookie that year." Arnold laughed. "Hey! It ain't my fault they one of the worst stations in the city!" Gerald replied as he had cereal in his mouth.

"Breakfast is served, you guys!"

"Ohmaigawd. It's been so long since you made your famous waffles and pancakes!" Vic replied to Travis. "It's a family secret. My Mom taught me it. And I intend to pass it down towards my own child one day."

"Oh, c'mon. You can pass it down to me!"

"As if." Travis chuckled as he poured orange juice.

Arnold soon saw Spinelli walk in as she buttoned up her shirt. He walked over to her. "Took you long enough to shower." Arnold smirked after they kissed. "Gotta stay clean, y'know." She smirked back. "Is that Travis' famous family breakfast recipe I'm smelling?"

"Indeed it is. C'mon." Arnold smiled at her and kissed her cheek. "Gee, you're quite affectionate." Spinelli smirked. "Can't help when I'm with you."

Later

"And I said, 'mm hell no. Who you think you are?' And he just looked at me as if he didn't know what I was sayin'." Vic finished her story.

They were all mainly laughing and having a great time with one another.

As they kept laughing and joking around, Arnold and Spinelli soon looked at each other.

"Sucks we have a twenty-four-hour shift, huh? I'm not complaining, but-" Spinelli started, but Arnold interrupted. "But you want our normal shift hours so you could laze around at home?" Arnold chuckled. "Oh, shut up!" Spinelli laughed as she playfully hit his shoulder.

"Yo, you guys. I'm making a bet that ends tomorrow. How many callouts y'all think we'll go on?" Gerald smirked at them. "I got eleven!" Vic replied.

"No way. Seven!" Travis said. "Nuh-uh! Fifteen!" Donovan said. "You guys are exaggerating! Five!" Warren said.

"I got ten!" Arnold replied. "Ten? Nah. I got Twelve!" Spinelli replied as she put a hand on his shoulder.

"So we exaggerating the amount? A'ight. I'm goin' twenty!" Jackson said.

Everyone was silent for a moment, but they all laughed.

"Yo Tommy, what you think?"

"Shit, probably seven. And I'd bet that'll be the closest!" Tommy replied.

"All bets are in! We'll see who's the closest number after today."